Capitol Fax: Can we please do something that actually works?

Let's start with a question: is it time to fund consistently any violence interruption programs? That's what the Capitol Fax link below from yesterday discusses. Violence interruption programs have been cut in recent years and as a result we see in the news incidents of gun violence. And another take away, violence interruption works and thus the next question: Why don't we support it?

Can we please do something that actually works? https://t.co/C4oszlwKRF

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) August 13, 2018

Where are the Black male teachers?

If there is a need to get for example Black male teachers, where are they? Why aren't they choosing careers in education? We need them now more than ever!

You might have seen this article shared in the Chicago Tribune during this past week.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is investing about $1 million to recruit and train male elementary education majors of color to help spur black boys' academic success.

"This is not just becoming a teacher. This is becoming a leader."https://t.co/HlwjAP0XYw pic.twitter.com/n2D1sK8Deb

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) July 25, 2018

What do you think? Do we need the men in our classrooms to get the boys back on track academically?

Defender: Chicago Announces Pilot Program to Develop Vacant Homes

This is a program I can get behind:

On Sunday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a new pilot program to acquire and rehabilitate vacant homes in Chicago neighborhoods that need investment and jobs. The program will create opportunities for local businesses while supporting affordable homeownership.

“This pilot program is a win-win-win. It creates employment opportunities for at-risk youth, supports community stability and turns vacant homes from community burdens into neighborhood strengths,” Emanuel said. “By working with local contractors and developers, the pilot initiative will help support community improvement and homeownership, while driving neighborhood economic development.”

Through the pilot program, the city is investing $2 million in a capital fund for neighborhood contractors, investors and developers to rehab vacant homes in designated communities. Support for the program will come from surplus funds initially designated for the property tax rebate program.

The program will work with community partners to facilitate acquisition of the properties, finance the renovations, and generate employment opportunities for at-risk youth to maintain the homes until they are rehabilitated and sold. The network of partners will ensure the program generates economic opportunities for local contractors, developers and investors. Partners will include the Emerson Collective and Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF).

Another idea I have is that we can bring some architecturally significant construction to areas with significant vacant lots. Of course what I hope doesn't happen is that the city decides what designs should be constructed. At the very least some work can still go to at-risk youths who will work on something that could prove to be groundbreaking. Another condition, a young hungry architect will get recognition. Of course this is only an idea an in recognition of Chicago's history of great architecture.

Citizen: Treasurer Summers Honors Dr. King by Launching “77 Proud” Initiative

This story involves Mr. Jahmal Cole and his My Block My Hood My City project.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., City Treasurer Kurt Summers on Monday brought together faith and community leaders to address disinvestment in Chicago’s communities and announce a new initiative that promotes non-violence by providing access to economic resources. “77 Proud” consists of 11 financial education resource fairs that will take place across the City from January to March. The announcement took place at Stone Temple Church on Chicago’s West Side where Dr. King spoke at a rally 50 years ago.

“Each of our 77 neighborhoods has great potential, but they don’t each have the same access to opportunity or to investment,” Treasurer Summers said. “As we honor Dr. King, it is dire that we immediately take a stand against the violence, the inequalities and the injustices that exist in Chicago’s communities. By investing in Our Chicago and providing tools and education to those who need it most, we can help empower more Chicagoans to pursue Dr. King’s dream.”

Treasurer Summers also spoke to inequity in the justice system and disinvestment in Chicago’s neighborhoods as it relates to the more than nearly 500 deaths that took place in 2015 and almost 30 that have taken place since January 1, 2016. Founder of My Block My Hood My City, Jahmal Cole, has partnered with the Treasurer’s Office to implement 77 Proud and help spread a message of peace across the City.   

Press Release: Smart Meter Program Brings New Jobs to Chatham

Via Market Watch:

• CHICAGO, Apr 13, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today, U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush, the Chatham Business Association and ComEd announced a new pilot program to train 10 residents of Chatham and neighboring communities in outreach efforts to secure the installation of smart meters at local residences that will give customers access to greater savings once in place. The program participants will be trained by ComEd to talk to customers about the benefits of smart meters in an effort to help installers gain access to the existing meters. This pilot came as a result of a call to action by Rep. Rush to bring jobs and economic development to the Greater Chatham area.
  
  “I commend ComEd and the Chatham Business Association for launching this initiative in Chatham. By pairing employment opportunity with consumer education on energy efficiency, the entire community stands to gain. ComEd’s pilot program provides an example of the type of investment and collaboration that I encourage other corporations to follow. They can provide the impetus to turn Chatham around,” said Rep. Rush.
  
  “This digital smart-meter system will not only better power our homes and create real savings for families; it will also power job creation in our neighborhoods like Chatham," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I applaud Congressman Rush and ComEd for partnering together to make sure that residents in Chatham have the skills and training to take part in this exciting 21st-century technological innovation that is bringing with it greater value to customers across Chicago and well-paying, middle-class jobs to families in Chatham.”
  
  "The Chatham Business Association (CBA) has been working with local officials to bring new opportunities to residents of the Chatham neighborhood,” said Melinda Kelly, Executive Director of Chatham Business Association. “CBA is glad to partner in this business savvy smart meter pilot program launched in Chatham. In week one, CBA’s Community Outreach team was able to contact 903 addresses, schedule 45 appointments and eliminate 83 vacant properties from ComEd’s Unable To Complete (UTC) list, bringing the benefits of smart meters and cost savings to area residents. If electric bills go down due to energy efficiency, that means more money in people’s pockets to spend in our neighborhood businesses, thus directly helping small businesses that are thriving in our community. On behalf of CBA’s Board of Directors, I would to thank Congressman Rush for his leadership and ComEd for working with CBA to create an innovative model program that creates jobs with economic value in our community.”
  
  “More than 3,600 full time equivalent jobs have been created as a result of Smart Grid work in northern Illinois,” said ComEd President and CEO Anne Pramaggiore. “This pilot program will help ComEd ensure all customers in the area can benefit from smart meter technology while meeting the need for jobs in the Chatham area. We are pleased to have worked with the Chatham Business Association and Rep. Rush to bring this program to the area.”
  
  The pilot is expected to last for three months and the results will be reviewed by all parties to determine next steps.
  
  Last year ComEd committed to bringing additional meter reader and customer service jobs to the Chatham area. Several Chatham area residents have applied and begun filling those positions.
  
  Public officials who support the endeavor include: 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris, 6th Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer, 34th Ward Alderman and Budget Chair Carrie Austin, Senator Donnie Trotter, Congressman Danny Davis and Commissioner Richard Boykin
  
  Chatham Business Association Small Business Development Inc. (“CBA”) is a non-for-profit organization formed with a mission to promote political and economic stability in Chatham over 43 years ago.Since then as a result of our expertise in small business growth and development our market has expanded to serving businesses throughout the City of Chicago and State of Illinois.CBA’s purpose is to serve as a vehicle for enhancing social and economic growth of Chatham and surrounding communities by creating opportunities and programs that promote community stability.
  
  Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation EXC, +1.00% the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 6.6 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
  
  SOURCE: ComEd
  
  ComEd Media Relations
  (312) 394-3500
  
  Copyright Business Wire 2015 

DNA Info also had an article about this.

DNA Info: Wi-Fi Hot Spots, Laptops to Be Loaned by Libraries Under Pilot Program

What do you guys think of this idea? Is this workable in the longterm?

The Chicago Public Library is planning to lend out wireless hot spots and laptops in one of the first programs of its kind in the country.

"Wi-Fi lending is a pilot program that we are interested in exploring in order to make the Internet available to people without this technology at home," said Brian Bannon, commissioner of the library system.

The system's "Hotspot at Home" initiative has been in planning stages for a while, but received a boost when the library decided to apply for funding through the Knight News Challenge grant competition earlier this month.

The details of the pilot program are still being hashed out, but will likely start out at 12 branches that are in communities where home broadband usage rates are the lowest.

As with checking out books, DVDs or fishing poles, anyone with a library card in good standing would be able to take home the devices.

Summer Program Fair at McCormick Place

The following press release was sent to us.

Summer Program Fair by Worlee Glover

The event is Summer Program Fair Saturday March 29, 2014 McCormick Place East Lakeside Ballroom 2301 S King Drive Admission: FREE

Ward Room: Rahm, Comcast to Offer Internet Centers Near Some CPS Schools

While a great idea, why not provide this to more schools around the city not just the welcoming schools (this is referring to those schools who are taking in students from the schools that are closed).

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Comcast announced Monday that they will provide Internet facilities around some city schools for students in low-income families.

The city and Comcast, in partnership with the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, will provide “learning zones,” which will be centered around five Chicago Public Schools “welcoming” schools.

(Comcast is the parent company of NBC)

The centers that will be placed around Mayo Elementary in Bronzeville, Bass Elementary and Nicholson Elementary in Englewood and West Englewood, and Hughes Elementary and Johnson Elementary in North Lawndale.

Students in these schools will have access to computers and mobile devices, which will provide electronic access to textbooks and information.

To explain what's in parenthesis in the quote, Comcast in fact owns our local NBC affiliate NBC 5 and those owns the content of the Ward Room on the NBC Chicago website.

Anyway, here's more information on the Comcast Internet Essentials program assuming that your school doesn't have it yet. This is the third year for this program according to the article linked above.

I just to find some more information and found it from the Tribune:

Comcast partnered with United Way to set up the five local "learning zones," which will feature technology training programs and events, as well as enhanced Internet access in the schools and public Wi-Fi service at neighboring community organizations. The learning zones pilot is part of Comcast’s Internet Essentials, a nationwide program that provides discounted residential broadband Internet access to low-income households. Chicago is the only city in the U.S. testing out the learning zones, which are expected to be announced by Comcast and Mayor Rahm Emanuel at a Monday event.

"It's a pilot that’s being implemented in Chicago," said Bret Perkins, Comcast's vice president of external and government affairs. "We're watching it closely and if it works, we'll look at whether there are other places we can implement it."

Internet Essentials is in its third year and has more than 220,000 families signed up nationwide. More than 14,000 Chicago households are participating, up from 7,000 at this time last year. The 14,000 represent roughly 15 percent of eligible households, said Matt Summy, Comcast’s regional vice president of external and government affairs. Families qualify for Internet Essentials if their children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches at CPS. The service provides high-speed residential broadband Internet for $9.95 a month, locked in for as long as the child remains in school and eligible. Comcast waives its activation and equipment rental fees and offers the option to purchase a computer for $150.

I look forward to knowing where this learning zones pilot program would be expanded.

Sun-Times: CTA OKs price hikes for passes for college students, fees geared toward tourist

Changes are abound at CTA for college students and those of you who pay cash for fare especially on the L:

CTA board members Wednesday signed off on two price hikes of more than 30 percent — one affecting college students; the other expected to impact tourists and infrequent L riders.

As of this fall, the board agreed to raise the cost of U-Passes used by full-time college students from 81-cents to $1.07 a day ­— a 32 percent price increase.

It also approved a $3 fare for L passengers who choose to buy one-way tickets with cash once the plastic-card-dominant Ventra payment system starts this summer. That’s 33 percent more than the $2.25 fare the same one-ride passenger would pay now — or in the future if using a plastic Ventra card with a special chip.

The U-Pass price change could affect up to 130,000 full-time students at 52 colleges who now can use the deeply-discounted transit cards for unlimited daily rides. Usually, CTA officials said, universities embed the cost of U-Passes in student fees but do not have to do so.

The price change translates into a $15 increase per U-Pass per semester, and is intended to offset “higher operational expenses,’’ but still reflects a great value, CTA officials said. U-Pass rates have not increased in three years, they noted.
...
Starting this fall, new U-Passes will be in the form of new plastic Ventra payment cards which will also feature student photos and names.

A new five-year contract agreement approved Wednesday also requires schools to pay a $5 fee per Ventra card up front, but it’s up to schools to decide if they want to pass that cost on to students, CTA officials said.

CTA President Forrest Claypool told reporters the U-Pass hike was tied to the expiration of the U-Pass contract, rather than the new Ventra system.

The new contract is for five years and, for the first time, will give students access to not only the CTA but also Pace. Plus, some certificate-granting post-secondary schools may be offering U-Passes.

Meanwhile Wednesday, CTA Board members agreed to charge riders who choose to buy a one-way rail ride with cash $3 once Ventra launches this summer. The amount reflects the cost of a $2.25 one-way rail ride, a 25-cent transfer ­— whether used or not, and a 50-cent “convenience fee’’ for producing a disposable paper ticket with the same special chip contained in new plastic Ventra cards.

CTA officials said they expected tourists and infrequent riders to use one-ride cash L tickets and regular riders to opt for payment by Ventra cards.

Want to know more about the Ventra system you can visit this page: http://www.transitchicago.com/ventra/

VIDEO: Jahmal Cole "Inclination vs. Obligation"

Part 1


Part 2

[VIDEO: PART 1 & PART 2] This footage is of Jahmal Cole giving a presentation at Whitney Young Library last Thursday. Here's a description of what he discusses in these two videos:

Role Model Movement founder Jahmal Cole speaks 2-7-2013 at Whitney Young Library. The topic of discussion is Choices "Inclination vs. Obligation."

The first vid is 8 minutes and the second vid is 10 minutes. Hope you enjoy!

CPS gets $50,000 Fed Grant to Deal With Englewood Violence - DNAinfo.com Chicago

CPS gets $50,000 Fed Grant to Deal With Englewood Violence - DNAinfo.com Chicago

Chicago's public schools are getting a $50,000 federal grant to help deal with violence in the Englewood neighborhood.

The funds come through the U.S. Department of Education's Project School Emergency Response to Violence and are specifically meant to address 35 shootings over the past year at four high schools in the Englewood community.

“These grants provide support to students, educators and communities impacted by these senseless shootings,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

“Tragic events damage students and entire communities, and disrupt teaching and learning. These funds will support Chicago schools as they continue to recover from these acts of violence and work to make the community safer so all children can live free of fear.”

CPS applied for the grant and intends to use it on its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program as well as Response-to-Intervention plans to address violence, including crisis counseling.

According to the Project website, funds can be used for mental health assessments, overtime for teachers, counselors, law enforcement and security officers, and temporary security measures such as metal detectors and additional security guards and security cameras.

I wonder if RAGE is going to get their hands on these funds.

REMINDER: February 5th event with the Cook County Assessor

We posted about this event January 15th. It's being heavily promoted by the Greater Chatham Alliance and will take place February 5, 2012 at Whitney Young Library - 7901 S. King Drive - from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Refer to flyer below for more details!

The first lady was in the 6th ward!!!

Photo from WBEZ

Alderman Sawyer mentioned that when he addressed the Roseland Heights Community Association last night. Here's a story from WBEZ:

First Lady Michelle Obama returned to her native South Side Chicago on Tuesday to promote her initiatives on healthy eating for children as well as her quest to eliminate food deserts.

Obama stopped by a refashioned Walgreens on 75th and State Street. Last year the chain started stocking its shelves with fresh fruits and vegetables in neighborhoods where crisp produce is scarce. Often, such food deserts either lack healthy stores or are home to stores where processed and junk foods prevail.

The First Lady said the issue of food deserts speaks directly to her.

“I saw this growing up in my own community,” said Obama, who grew up in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. “Starting out with wonderful grocery stores but slowly, but surely, as the economies changed, many of these resources just disappeared into thin air. This is true for so many communities across the country. This just isn’t happening in Chicago or on the South Side.

“If folks want to buy a head of lettuce for a salad or some fruit for their kids’ lunch, they’d have to take two or three buses to do it.”

Obama invested time and considerable political capital in a program called “Let’s Move,” which aims to reduce childhood obesity.

Her visit coincides with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s daylong food access summit. Mayors from around the country gathered in Chicago to explore best practices to expand fresh food in underserved communities.

Schools Aim to Keep Students On Track At a Critical Juncture - Chicago News Cooperative

Schools Aim to Keep Students On Track At a Critical Juncture - Chicago News Cooperative

On the first day of school nearly two weeks ago, Jillian Carew quickly realized getting all of her freshman algebra students on the same page would be a monumental task.

That’s because the 250-plus freshmen at Johnson College Prep, a Noble Street Charter School, come from 124 different elementary schools. The new class did have one thing in common, however.

“We definitely found out very early on that they really don’t know how to multiply,” Carew said. “Some of them are even struggling with adding.”

Each year, high schools across the city must quickly acclimate students to the rigors of high school. In Chicago Public Schools, where the graduation rate hovers just above 50 percent, the transition between eighth grade and freshman year is crucial to setting students on a path to graduate.

Research conducted by the Consortium on Chicago School Research shows that students who are on-track at the end of freshman year are four times more likely to graduate from high school. On-track students are defined as those who have earned at least 5 full credits and have not failed more than one semester of a core subject.

Here's a program that could've been used when I was in high school. Have any of you ever heard about it?

CPS has its own initiative to ease the transition to high school. Freshman Connection, launched in the summer of 2008, is a four-week summer program that provides incoming students with extra math and literacy instruction, as well as a course designed to address skills such as time management and conflict resolution.

About 11,000 students participated in this year’s program, according to district spokeswoman Ana Vargas. The average attendance rate during the first quarter of the school year for students who participated in the program last year was 93.8 percent, compared to 88.1 percent for students who did not participate.

I could almost chuckle hearing about the rigors of high school vs. elementary school. When it was that time for me, I was warned about the rigors and found that it didn't matter. Of course I'm talking about something that happened many years ago. I would expect times have changed in many of our high schools.

BTW, during the course of the summer Harlan's calendar was filled with events regarding Freshman Connection registration. Same program and hopefully - well expectedly - positive results!

Home energy assistance programs

Utility Help -Energy Flyer_2012

A flyer from CEDA provided courtesy of the Greater Chatham Alliance.

Chicago Tribune: Emanuel targets 9 neighborhoods in foreclosure fight

One of those neighborhoods is Chatham:

The "Micro-Market Recovery Program" is distinct from several attempts by the city to combat the housing crisis in recent years because it better coordinates the efforts of not-for-profits, banks and community groups, Emanuel said Wednesday.

While it will start with roughly $15 million from the John T. and Catherine D. MacArthur Foundation for loans, Emanuel said it also will tap federal funds. And officials will reach out to banks to invest in keeping people in their houses or rehabilitating foreclosed properties, which Emanuel hopes will bring the total to $50 million.

A measure passed by the City Council last month that requires banks to secure and maintain buildings left vacant after foreclosures gives the banks incentive to work with the city, said Andrew Mooney, commissioner for Housing and Economic Development.

"We will approach (banks) and tell them 'You have specific responsibilities in this neighborhood,'" Mooney said.

Emanuel said he chose parts of nine neighborhoods — Humboldt Park, Chatham, Chicago Lawn, West Woodlawn, Auburn Gresham, West Pullman, Belmont Cragin, Englewood and Grand Boulevard — because they have high concentrations of recent foreclosures and have active community organizations that can help the administration focus its resources.

The Energy $avers Grant for Bungalow Homes...

"Available now for a limited time!"

Provided by the Greater Chatham Alliance and more information would've been provided at last months general meeting except that it was cancelled in light of strong storms last month. The information below was provided in this month's meeting announcement. This month's meeting will see police superintendent Garry McCarthy as GCA's guest speaker:

This grant program is designed to help bungalow owners lower their gas & electric bills, make their homes comfortable and reduce their energy use.

Weatherization services may include: sealing leaks & gaps in the attic, basement & sidewalls, attic insulation, weather stripping for doors or windows and furnace & boiler repairs.

To see if you are eligible, call 312.675.0300 or visit: www.chicagobungalow.org ––NOW!

The flyer for this grant program is below:
Bungalow Grant Final

Uptown Update: Uptown Needs Jamie Oliver

Uptown Update: Uptown Needs Jamie Oliver:

From Ald. Cappleman's latest newsletter:
"Jamie Oliver is a world renowned chef whose restaurant, Fifteen, helps at-risk youth by training them in the culinary arts. The newly created "Uptown Needs Jamie Oliver" task force wants to attract Jamie Oliver, and his restaurant, Fifteen, to the Uptown neighborhood in Chicago. We need this restaurant to help us inspire youth, train them in the culinary arts while providing Uptown with a world-class restaurant that will attract people to our historical neighborhood."

An idea that should also come to our neighborhoods for our own at risks youths. Hopefully this could spark the development of other restaurants here!

Chatham/Avalon Park Community Council: Foreclosure Prevention and Options Training

“Get the Facts”

Already missed one session on August 4, 2011, but another is coming up on August 18th from 6 PM to 7:30.

GENESIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program and National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program
7735 S. Vernon Avenue
Chicago, IL 60619
773-994-6670

Genesis Housing Development Corporation (GHDC) announces the expansion of its HUD/FHA certified home ownership and foreclosure prevention programs.

GHDC is a not-for-profit housing counseling agency with 13 years of community development experience. We are assisting homeowners by helping them get loan modifications, get a court mediation session and understand the foreclosure process.

There is no charge for HUD certified housing counseling.

Call us for more information about the Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program and NeighborWorks America National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program to schedule a counseling appointment usually within one week or less.

We also offer FREE informational bi-weekly workshops: Please RSVP Foreclosure Prevention and Options Training “Get the Facts”

August 4, 2011 (6:00 – 7:30pm)
August 18, 2011 (6:00 – 7:30pm)

All workshops are held at:
7735 S. Vernon Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60619
Please call (773) 994-6670 or Register On-line at www.genesishdc.org today!

Genesis is funded in part by a Grant from “THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST”; “ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORTY” and “THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT”

Summer food service program

The flyer below was handed out at last night's Roseland Heights meeting.

Free meals for youths 18 years and under sponsored by Catholic Charities at Wesley United Methodist Church located at 201 E. 95th Street - phone (773) 821-6240.

The meals will occur at two different times namely for breakfast and lunch starting June 27th until September 2nd. The first meal occurs between 10 AM to 11 PM and the second meals at 12 Noon to 2 PM. There is no carry out and all food must be consumed at the distribution site. This is Monday through Friday.

BTW, at the meeting a Rosemoor resident mentioned that a free meals program is to be held at St. John de La Salle Church located at 10205 S. Martin Luther King Dr. If you want to inquire about if they have a free meals program this summer you may want to call them @ (773) 785-2022.